Exodus 3 18

Exodus 3:18 kjv

And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath met with us: and now let us go, we beseech thee, three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.

Exodus 3:18 nkjv

Then they will heed your voice; and you shall come, you and the elders of Israel, to the king of Egypt; and you shall say to him, 'The LORD God of the Hebrews has met with us; and now, please, let us go three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.'

Exodus 3:18 niv

"The elders of Israel will listen to you. Then you and the elders are to go to the king of Egypt and say to him, 'The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. Let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the LORD our God.'

Exodus 3:18 esv

And they will listen to your voice, and you and the elders of Israel shall go to the king of Egypt and say to him, 'The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us; and now, please let us go a three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.'

Exodus 3:18 nlt

"The elders of Israel will accept your message. Then you and the elders must go to the king of Egypt and tell him, 'The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. So please let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the LORD, our God.'

Exodus 3 verses

Exodus 3 18 Meaning

This verse outlines the specific divine instruction given to Moses regarding his initial approach to Pharaoh. It details that the elders of Israel will heed Moses' voice and join him in presenting a formal demand to Pharaoh: the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has summoned them, requiring a three days' journey into the wilderness for the purpose of sacrificing to their God. This communication is a test of Pharaoh's will and an initial step in God's plan for the liberation of His people, couched as a religious observance rather than a full demand for complete freedom, thereby revealing Pharaoh's heart.

Exodus 3 18 Context

Exodus 3:18 is nestled within the dramatic narrative of Moses' encounter with God at the burning bush. Following God's declaration of His covenant name, YHVH (Ex 3:14), and His compassionate plan to deliver Israel from Egyptian bondage (Ex 3:7-10), God now instructs Moses on the specific initial steps. This verse details the exact message Moses, accompanied by the elders of Israel, is to convey to Pharaoh. It sets the stage for the unfolding conflict between God and Pharaoh, where the seemingly modest request for a temporary journey for religious sacrifice is designed by God to expose Pharaoh's stubbornness and unwillingness to acknowledge the authority of the God of Israel. Historically, Pharaoh was considered a divine king, a direct link to the gods of Egypt, and granting such a request would imply a recognition of a foreign deity's claim over his subjects and land, a concept that was politically and religiously fraught.

Exodus 3 18 Word analysis

• And they shall listen to your voice (וְשָׁמְעוּ לְקֹלֶךָ - v'sham'u l'qōleḵā):
  • v'sham'u: from shama (שָׁמַע), meaning 'to hear,' 'to listen,' but also implies 'to obey' or 'to heed.' Here, it signifies not just passive hearing but active reception and compliance.
  • l'qōleḵā: 'to your voice,' refers to Moses' authority and God's commissioning him. This immediately assures Moses that the people, particularly the elders, will accept his divine mandate, overcoming Moses' earlier hesitations about their belief (Ex 4:1). This underscores divine orchestration.
• and you shall come, you and the elders of Israel (וּבָאתָ אַתָּה וְזִקְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל - uḇāṯā ʾattâ wəziqnê yiśrāʾēl):
  • ziqnê yiśrāʾēl: 'elders of Israel.' These were the established leaders and representatives of the community, holding authority and respect. Their inclusion signifies communal backing and validation of Moses' mission, making the request a national plea rather than just a personal one from Moses. This strategic inclusion adds weight and legitimacy in the eyes of Pharaoh.
• to the king of Egypt (אֶל מֶלֶךְ מִצְרַיִם - ʾel melek miṣrayim):
  • melek miṣrayim: 'king of Egypt,' or Pharaoh. This establishes the direct confrontation with the ultimate secular and religious authority in Egypt, setting the stage for the coming struggle between YHVH and Pharaoh's power and the gods of Egypt.
• and you shall say to him, ‘The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us’ (וַאֲמַרְתֶּם אֵלָיו יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי הָעִבְרִים נִקְרָא עָלֵינוּ - waʾămartem ʾēlāyw YHVH ʾelōhê hāʿivriym niqrāʾ ʿālênū):
  • YHVH Elohei ha'Ivrim: 'The LORD, the God of the Hebrews.' This is a significant title. "YHVH" is God's personal covenant name revealed to Moses. "God of the Hebrews" emphasizes a distinct national identity and deity, implicitly challenging the universal claims of Pharaoh and Egyptian gods. It's a statement of sovereign claim over His people and demands recognition by a foreign ruler. This directly establishes the polemic: YHVH is the one true God, distinct from the gods of Egypt, and He demands obedience.
  • niqra alainu: literally, 'called upon us' or 'appeared upon us,' 'encountered us.' It implies a divine summons or appointment, a spiritual encounter requiring immediate action and commitment. It signifies a divine compulsion or necessity for their request.
• and now, please let us go (וְעַתָּה נֵלְכָה־נָּא - wəʿattâ nelḵâ-nāʾ):
  • 'Now' implies urgency, directly flowing from the divine encounter. 'Please' (-nāʾ) is a polite but firm request, conveying seriousness and legitimacy of the divine command, rather than a mere plea.
• a three days’ journey into the wilderness (דֶּרֶךְ שְׁלֹשֶׁת יָמִים בַּמִּדְבָּר - dereḵ šəlošeṯ yāmim ba-midbār):
  • dereḵ šəlošeṯ yāmim: 'a three days’ journey.' This phrase is multi-layered. On one level, it's a practical distance to separate them from Egypt for religious purification (as animals sacred to Egyptians would be sacrificed by Israelites). On another, it serves as an initial, limited request designed to expose Pharaoh's obstinacy. It’s also symbolic of complete separation from Egyptian culture and devotion. The repeated nature of "three days" in scripture can denote significant separation or preparation for a divine encounter.
  • ba-midbar: 'into the wilderness.' The wilderness is a place of solitude, purification, and direct encounter with God. It emphasizes removal from Egyptian land, practices, and religious defilement, as well as the beginning of a pilgrimage towards the Promised Land. This also suggests the place where Israel would encounter God at Mount Sinai (Horeb), also described as being in the wilderness (Ex 3:1).
• that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God (וְנִזְבְּחָה לַיהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ - wənizbəḥâ la'YHVH ʾelōhênū):
  • wənizbəḥâ: 'that we may sacrifice,' from zavach (זָבַח), referring to ritual slaughter for worship. Sacrifice was a central act of worship in ancient Near Eastern religions. For Israel, it was about atonement, fellowship, and expressing devotion to YHVH.
  • la'YHVH Eloheinu: 'to the LORD our God.' This reaffirms their covenant relationship with YHVH and distinguishes Him as their specific, unique God. The act of sacrifice solidifies this covenant bond and national identity. This implicitly argues against sacrificing to Egyptian gods or in a manner displeasing to YHVH within Egypt.

Exodus 3 18 Bonus section

This verse subtly introduces the core tension that will define the Exodus narrative: the conflict between Pharaoh's oppressive sovereignty and YHVH's liberating authority. The demand to sacrifice to "the LORD our God" specifically in the wilderness highlights the impossibility of genuine worship within Egypt's idolatrous and corrupting influence. This spiritual necessity drives the physical journey. The seemingly small "three days' journey" reveals God's patient yet deliberate strategy; it is an initial request that serves as a divine test for Pharaoh's heart. Had Pharaoh conceded, God's plan would still have unfolded, albeit differently, perhaps requiring greater clarity on the terms of separation. However, his inevitable refusal lays bare his rebellion against YHVH's authority and justifies the subsequent plagues, illustrating the escalating consequences of resisting God’s command. This pre-planned refusal (foretold in Ex 3:19) underscores God's control over human history and His faithfulness to His covenant people, assuring Moses that Israel’s eventual complete freedom is not accidental, but divinely ordained.

Exodus 3 18 Commentary

Exodus 3:18 serves as God’s blueprint for Moses' inaugural negotiation with Pharaoh, detailing the strategic message to be delivered. This is not a veiled plea, but a divine command phrased as a reasonable, yet profound, request. By requiring the participation of the elders, God emphasizes that this is a collective national initiative, giving Moses credibility and demonstrating Israel’s unified desire to worship their God. The pivotal assertion "The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us" functions as a theological challenge to Pharaoh’s presumed divine authority and the supremacy of Egyptian gods. It elevates YHVH as a unique, personal, and active deity involved in the lives of His people, contrasting starkly with the impersonal, regional deities common in ancient worldviews.

The specific request for a "three days’ journey into the wilderness to sacrifice" is profoundly significant. It provides a plausible pretext for temporary absence, which was common for ancient peoples to perform cultic rites. However, the wilderness represents separation and purity from Egyptian defilement, hinting at Israel's need for unhindered worship—a practice considered an "abomination" to Egyptians (Ex 8:26). While appearing limited, this demand subtly yet fundamentally confronts Pharaoh's ultimate sovereignty. It anticipates his refusal (as indicated in Ex 3:19), setting the stage for God's demonstrations of power that would expose Pharaoh's intransigence and compel a complete release of His people, culminating not just in a journey, but in liberation. It is also an important precedent for divine command, where a request initiates a series of escalating events, culminating in ultimate deliverance.